'Eastern Air Command' operationalizes CH-47 Chinook choppers

Guwahati: The Eastern Air Command of Indian Air Force (IAF) has now operationalized the heavy-duty CH-47 Chinook advanced multi-mission helicopters.

These heavy-duty choppers will be based at the Air Force Station in Mohanbari of Assam. "They will provide IAF the unmatched strategic airlift capability across the full spectrum of combat and humanitarian missions", officials. said. The Boeing Chinook is among India's latest buys from along with the AH-64 Apache "tank buster" attack helicopters.

Meanwhile, the choppers have already begun high-altitude missions in Northeast Indian states. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu tweeted a video of the Chinook taking off from an airfield in Miao district, around 25 kilometres from the state border with Assam.

"There goes Chinook Helicopter of @IAF_MCC carrying 83 quintals of essential commodities for remote Vijoynagar in Changlang dist from Miao today. Thankfully weather cleared enabling essential items to be delivered to the needy in this pandemic, completing day's task in 2 sorties," Khandu tweeted.

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engined, tandem rotor, heavy-lift helicopter developed by American rotorcraft company Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol.

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